Barry Altman Presentation -February 2, 2026

Barry Altman

February 2th, 2026

Time & Location: 7pm at the Castlegar & District Library.

Entrance via side door access to basement conference room.

FILM PHOTOGRAPHY IN 2026

There has been a significant resurgence in film photography over the past several years. My goal in these three sessions is to provide some information about the  “Why” and “How” of analogue photography in 2026 and hopefully create some interest in dusting off your old film camera or trying shooting film for the first time.

Barry plans on incorporating some visual material as well as some hands on material such as cameras, prints, processing and scanning gear, etc.

BIO – BARRY ALTMAN

Barry is an amateur photographer who’s been taking photos since before I was in high school (A very long time ago!). I purchased my first 35mm SLR camera when I was in University.  It was a Soviet built Zenit E which was the only thing cheap enough to afford on an impoverished student’s budget.

Upon graduating I headed to South America for a couple of years. Before leaving Canada I decided that I needed to upgrade my camera gear and purchased the most basic Yashica 35mm SLR and 50mm lens available as well as a cheap zoom lens of questionable parentage. I also purchased the first of several Rollei 35 cameras that I’ve owned to this day. Expecting that it would be difficult to find film, and have it processed, I packed many rolls of colour film, several cans of bulk 35mm black and white film and enough equipment to develop and contact print the negatives.

I shot many photos in Peru and upon returning to Canada I purchased an enlarger and started printing my B&W & colour negatives. The enlarger was capable of handling medium format negatives so I, of course, had to buy a medium format camera. It was a Mamiya C330 twin lens reflex which I eventually replaced with a Mamiya 645 SLR. Sometime around 2000 I could see that digital photography was going to replace film photography and I sold the Mamiya 645 while I still could. Since that time I’ve been shooting with a series of m4/3 digital cameras; currently a Panasonic G9 and an LX100 II.

In 2020 I found that I was missing the experience of shooting film and purchased a used Pentax 645N and enough gear to set up my darkroom again. I also fell into a bit of a rabbit hole collecting and using many of the classic film cameras that I couldn’t afford when they were new. I use my digital cameras when they’re the best tool for the job but there’s something about shooting film that inspires me to get out the door and take photos. My favourite subjects are landscapes, nature and architecture; colour in 35 mm and B&W in medium and large format.